Comprehensive defeat for 3s

Goresbrook slumped to defeat against East Hanningfield and Great Burstead on Saturday afternoon. The toss was won by skipper Gillham and this proved the only victory of the day as Brook were reduced to 3-2 in the first two overs. Livett playing on and departing for 1 (it should have been a duck but umpirt Gaymer failed to signal a leg bye) and Wilkinson for nought caught out at first slip in a shot that belonged to a slip cordon catching exercise.

Lowe and Kumar batted gamely for bring Brook up to 80 before Lowe was caught trying to up the run rate. Kumar fell shortly after for an excellent 40. Jones and Gaymer also went cheaply before Paul Atkins and Gillham Jnr put on 30 runs for the seventh wicket. Gillham fell for a mature 16 whilst Atkins dispatched the sluggish Burstead bowlers to all parts of the wonderfully scenic Ford complex.

Atkins burst took Brook to 141, a total that never looked like being enough.

After a dreadful tea, half of which was returned EHGB started their chase and put Gillham Snr and Gaymer to the sword. Any width was punished and the Burstead captain raced along to a half century before drinks. Paoletti at the other end backed up his wonderful fielding with some hard hitting before Brook rotated the bowlers looking for a breakthru and this came by way of Nirbhay Bist who removed Paoletti by lbw.

Burstead, heavily reliant on their opening pair lost three more wickets before they closed out victory in the 33rd over to seal a very comfortable victory over a lethargic Goresbrook 3rd team who's promotion bid is all but over.